Another glaring example of why one shouldn't use the C shell to write shell scripts. ${VISUAL-${EDITOR-vi}} /tmp/bug$$ in the Bourne shell will do just what is desired. -- In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Univ of MD Comp Sci (301) 454-7690 UUCP: {seismo,allegra,brl-bmd}!umcp-cs!chris CSNet: chris at umcp-cs ARPA: chris at maryland